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GLAS wiring
Electric Circuits
Electricity: The flow
of electrons. (Mobile
particles, carrying
charge)
Circuit: A path for
electrons to flow in
http://chem-mgriep2.unl.edu/Courses/AnimatedAtoms.html
Hydroelectric Dam
ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/hyhowworks.html
Circuit functions
In general, circuits can be
thought of as
combinations of:
Power Sources (battery,
generator)
Loads (where power is
used) (lamps, speakers,
motors)
Conduction Paths (wires)
Controls (switches &
knobs)
Indicators (meters,
flashing lights, buzzers)
Voltage
Voltage is the electrical
force, or "pressure",
that causes current to
flow in a circuit.
Voltage is the force that is
pushing the water (electrons)
forward.
It is measured in VOLTS
(V ).
Count Alessandro Volta (1745-1827)
Current
Current is the movement of
electrical charge - the flow
of electrons through the
electronic circuit.
In our analogy, current
would be the flow of water
moving through the tube
(wire).
Voltage
Current
Current is measured in
AMPERES (AMPS, A or I).
Current is defined to
flow from positive to
negative voltages
Resistance
Resistance is anything that
causes an opposition to the
flow of current in a circuit.
Voltage
Current
Ohms Law
Electronic Schematics
Electronic circuits are drawn using schematics which use
standard symbols for each type of electronic component
Voltage
(Volts)
Circuit Schematic
I
Load/Resistor
(Ohms)
+
V -
CurrentCurrent
(Amps)
battery symbol
Diode
Transistors
resistor symbol
Capacitor
V?
V=IR
V = 12 (Amps) x 1 (Ohm)
V = 12 Volts (12V)
I?
I = 12 (Volts)/ 1 (Ohm) :
I = 12 Amps (12A)
R=V/I
R = 12 (Volts)/ 12 (Amps) :
R = 1 Ohm (1 )
Electronic circuits
For electrons to flow
contiusly, there must
be a compete circuit
in which electrons
return to their source.
Think of it as a circle.
The paths may split
off here and there but
they always rejoin the
source eventually.
Condensation
Evaporation
http://www.ibiblio.org/kuphaldt/socratic/output/animation_switch_circuit_fast.gif
Series Circuit
A series circuit is one with all
the loads in a row. Like links
in a chain.
There is only ONE path for the
electricity to flow.
If this circuit was a string of
light bulbs, and one blew out
(became an open circuit), the
remaining bulbs would turn
off.
Circuit components in series experience the same current.
Parallel Circuit
A parallel circuit is one that has
two or more paths for the
electricity to flow similar to a
fork in a river
In other words, the loads are
parallel to each other.
If the loads in this circuit were light
bulbs and one blew out, current would
still flow to the others.
Circuit components in parallel experience the same voltage.
Demonstration
Voltage meter
(in parallel with load)
Load
resistor